With ‘Youth at the Centre of Attention’, PM launches dialogue session series

AMMAN — Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Wednesday launched a series of dialogues with Jordanian youth titled "Visions of Modernisation: Youth at the Centre of Attention". 

The inaugural dialogue session took place at the University of Jordan, and featured the participation of hundreds of university students from the central governorates.

During the session, Khasawneh, accompanied by several ministers and the President of the University of Jordan, emphasised the vital role of Jordanian youth as “the country's present strength and the foundation for its future”. 

He noted that the existing capabilities and potential among the youth, along with recent constitutional and legislative amendments, allow them to become decision-makers. 

Notable changes include lowering the minimum age for electoral candidacy to 25, and introducing quotas for youth representation within political parties and leadership positions, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Khasawneh pointed out that, in line with the constitutional amendments and the ongoing political reform process, young people now have the right to run for membership in the Lower House starting from the age of 25, instead of 30.

He also mentioned that 27 political parties have already revised their regulations to allocate a 20 per cent quota for both youth and women. 

The prime minister emphasised the significance of the upcoming parliamentary elections, which are scheduled to take place between July 10 and November 10 of 2024, urging the youth to actively participate in these elections, both by running as candidates and casting their votes.

Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Wajih Azaizeh noted that political modernisation efforts used to come after crises in the country, but current reforms are “completely different”, and require the development of a political climate conducive to accomplishing the goals of the reform process. 

The government has worked to create a nurturing environment that enhances partisan culture in the country, he noted.

Minister of Social Development and Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment, Wafa Bani Mustafa, noted that the election and party laws have significantly enhanced political participation opportunities for women and youth. 

Minister of Industry, Trade, Supply, and Labour Youssef Al Shamali, along with Minister of Investment Kholoud Al Saqqaf, emphasised that the private sector's vision adopts a holistic approach to the economy, with a primary focus on boosting growth rates, alleviating poverty and unemployment and strengthening the investment climate by attracting more investments throughout the vision's implementation period, which extends until 2033.

Shamali encouraged university students to embrace the new sectors that have emerged as a result of technological advancements. 

He emphasised that the global job market will experience the creation of millions of new employment opportunities, alongside the phasing out of millions of others.